September 23, 2004

Lemony Snicket's perspective on parenting

Does he think that his work will become gentler now that he has a child? "It's almost the opposite, particularly when your child is an infant," he said. "My son has just started to crawl. I'm always assessing the threat level of plugs and sharp corners and glass tables." In fact, fatherhood has reinforced the world view that he believes accounts for the success of his children's books.

"When children reach the ages that are appropriate for the Snicket books, they have the sense that the world is going in a way that's contrary to the rules you're told about," he said. "You're given this code of behavior by your parents and teachers and watch the world disobey those rules. You can behave well and not necessarily be rewarded. Or behave badly and not necessarily get punished. The books reflect that truth."